Wrench.



PATENTED DEG. 1a, 1906.

W. EDWARDS.

WRENCH, I APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 23, 1906.-

.lll um WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EDYVARDS, OF VALLEY JUNCTION, INISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK J. FORREST, OF VALLEY JUNCTION, WISCONSIN.

WRENCH.

Patented Dec. 18, 1906.

Application filed i 11118 23, 1906' Serial N0- 323,18L

T0 all 2072,0112 it nmy concern.-

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM EDWARDS, residing at Valley Junction, in the county of Monroe and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in renches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in wrenches; and it more particularly relates to improvements in that type of wrenches known as pipe and rod wrenches.

Primarily my invention has for its object to provide a tool of the type stated of a very simple and effective construction, which can be easily manufactured at a minimum cost, and which will be capable of quickly and effectively serving its intended purposes, means being provided whereby an almost instantaneous adjustment of the jaws can be had.

Generically my invention comprises a fixed jaw terminating in an integrally-formed handle, a movable jaw detachably pivoted to the fixed jaw in such a manner as to be instantly removed and adjusted to suit the requirements of the work.

Again, my improved wrench comprises means for pivotally mounting the movable jaw, retaining it in its fulcrum while in an operative position, and means for aiding to eject the pivot stud of the movable jaw from its bearing when the movable jaw is in a position to be moved from engagement with the fixed jaw.

\Vith other objects in view than have been heretofore specified the invention also comprises certain novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, all of which will befirst describedin detail and thenbe specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows my invention applied for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of my invention, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view, the parts being in the position they assume when the wrench is inverted from the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the position of the parts when the movable jaw is just ready to be detached from the fixed jaw. Fig. 5 is a crosssection on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the movable jaw. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the fixed-jaw and handle.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, 1 designates the fixed-jaw member, which has a serrated pipe-engaging face 1 and is provided with a slot 1 in its rear face to form webs 1 1, between which the shank of the movable jaw is held.

The jaw 1 merges with the shank or handle 2, which may be of any approved design.

1 1 designate a series of circular bearing apertures in each web 1 of the jaw 1, with which the slots 1 merge, and the slots 1 are arranged at an angle to the back face 1 of the jaw l and are of less width than the diameter of the apertures 1 Also the slots 1 do not merge with the aperture 1 tangentially, but radially, the purpose of which will be readily apparent hereinafter. V

The movable jaw 3 comprises a head 3, having a serrated pipe-engaging face 3 and a shank 3 of, reduced thickness to pass into the slot 1 between the fixed jaw-webs.

The-shank 3 at its lower end has a rounded edge 3 to form a cam-like face and a pair of laterally-projecting bearing-lugs 3 to enter the bearingapertures 1 of the fixed jaw 1, and the lugs 3 are of a diameter to fit within the bearing-apertures of the fixed jaw. The lugs 3 however, are formed with a pair of parallel straight faces 5 to reduce the thickness thereof, and the faces 3 run parallel with the inner face 3 of the shank 8. The reduced thickness of the lugs 3 is such that the lugs 3 will slide in the slots 1 of. the shank 1 when in register therewith.

To normally hold the movable shank from moving to a-position with its lugs in register with the slots 1 I provide a leaf-spring 4, secured to the rear face of the shank 3, which spring is secured in place by a rivet or screw 5, as shown, and the spring 4 has its free end 4* curved and projected beyond the shank. By projecting the spring 4 beyond the shank the spring serves to hold the movable jaw 3 from the fixed jaw 1 when the movable jaw is thrown back, as shown in Fig. 3.

In the practical application of my invention the fixed jaw 1 is provided with a series of apertures l 'and slots 1 (two being shown I i I in the drawings,) so as to enable the movable jaw to be adjusted for different sizes of work.

So far as described the manner in which my invention operates will be best explained as follows: Assume the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1 and it is desired to adjust the wrench for a smaller pipesay into the second notch 1 The operator turns the movable jaw 1 on. its fulcrum from the position shown in Fig. 2 toward that shown in Fig. 3, when, by reason of the spring 4 and the curved or cam end of the movable-jaw shank, the movable jaw will be forced to the position shown in Fig. 3, with its bearinglugs in the slot 1 The movable jaw 1 may be detached from the fixed jaw and inserted into the other slots and pressed into the circular bearingaperture 1 while simultaneously turning the movable jaw backto its operative position with respect to the fixed jaw, as indicated in Fig. 1. It will thus be seen the curved edge 3 of the shank of the movable jaw acts as a cam with respect to the lugs and works on the inner face of the fixed jaw.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operation, and numerous advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and I desire to say that many slight changes in the detail construction and design of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

While I have described my invention primarily as a pipe-wrench, yet it is readily apparent that the same may be used to turn rods or put to any other use which is now or may hereinafter be apparent.

What I claim is 1. A wrench comprising the combination with a fixed jaw having a slotted portion in its rear face and bearing-apertures, of a movable jaw having lugs to fit said bearing-apertures, and a shank to fit in said slotted portion, and means for removably holding said fixed jaw with its lugs in said bearing-apertures.

2. A wrench comprising the combination with a fixed jaw having a handle and a groove on its rear face to form spaced webs, said webs having bearing-apertures and slots merging therewith, of a movable jaw having a shank to fit between the fixed-jaw webs, bearing-lugs for said shank, said lugs having a narrowed portion to pass through said webslots, and means for retaining said movable jaw normally in connection with the fixed aw.

3. A wrench comprising the combination with a fixed jaw having a handle and a groove on its rear face to form spaced webs, said webs having bearing-apertures and slots merging therewith, of a movable jaw having a shank to fit between the fixed-jaw webs, bearing-lugs for said shank, said lugs having a narrowed portion to pass through said webslots, and means carried by the movable jaw for normally retaining it with its bearinglugs in the bearing-apertures of the fixed jaw.

4. A wrench comprising the combination with a fixed jaw having a handle and a groove on its rear face to form spaced webs, said. webs having bearing-apertures and slots merging therewith, of a movable jaw having a shank to fit between. the fixed-jaw webs, bearing-lugs for said shank, said lugs having a narrowed portion to pass through said webslots, said movable-jaw shank having a curved cam-like edge.

5. A wrench comprising the combination with a fixed jaw having a handle and a groove on its rear face to form spaced webs, said webs having bearing-apertures and slots merging therewith, of a movable jaw having a shank to fit between the fixed-jaw webs, bearing-lugs for said shank, said lugs having a narrowed portion to pass through said webslots, said movable-j aw shank having a curved cam-like edge, and a leaf-spring secured to saidmovable-jaw shank to cooperate with the fixed jaw and hold the movable jaw from becoming detached from the fixed aw.

WILLIAM EDWARDS. Witnesses:

W. H. PRICE, W. H. PRESTON. 

